About Us
Our research centers around experiences of employees belonging to various marginalized identity groups. Specifically, we explore how stereotypes and other forms of prejudice create pressures for employees to “fit in” via identity management or code-switching. Through this work, we hope to better understand not only experiences of identity management, but unforeseen consequences to employee well-being.
People
Arturia Melson-Silimon, PhD is the director of AIM Lab. Before joining VT as a Visiting Assistant Professor, she received her PhD from the University of Georgia.
Mercedes Alvarez is a dedicated post-bacc researcher currently in a gap year and preparing for graduate school. Mercedes is interested in Multicultural Psychology and Industrial Organizational Psychology. While in her gap year and preparing for graduate school, Mercedes is also managing the GABBA Lab at the University of Georgia.
Kedean (Kay) Brown is a dedicated fourth-year undergraduate student with a passion for Industrial Organizational Psychology. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with a Minor in Property Management. She is interested in researching the experiences of people of color in the workplace, specifically, the impact of women of color in management positions, and how the “angry black women stereotype” affects people in these roles. She would like to understand these individuals' challenges while also identifying opportunities for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Current Research Projects
Towards a Model of Muli-Identity Management (under review)
Investigation of Stereotype-Specific Identity Management among Black women (forthcoming)
Qualitative Investigation of Workplace Code-Switching among People of Color (in-progress)
Future Directions of Workplace Code-Switching (forthcoming)